Household Cavalry officer to meet The Queen again after 60 years

Pensioner Clive Grantham will meet The Queen next week at a garden party at Buckingham Palace, making this his second meeting with Her Majesty in over sixty years.

Mr Grantham, who is 82 years old, is a former member of the Household Cavalry. On 2nd June 1953, he was part of the cavalry escort who accompanied the young Queen in her gold state coach from Buckingham Palace to her Coronation at Westminster Abbey. When asked what it was like to be a part of that historic day, Mr Grantham simply said: “Indescribable”.

Next Wednesday, Mr Grantham and his wife, Rose, are among the guests who have been invited to Horse Guards Parade to watch The Queen present the standards to the latter day Household Cavalry. Following on from this, the couple will proceed to Buckingham Palace in the afternoon for a garden party. “I’m looking forward to it, although it depends on the weather”, Mr Grantham joked, when discussing the party. Clive and Rose have their own reason to celebrate this July also, as they will be celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary.

As Mr Grantham can no longer walk, a specialised wheelchair taxi will be sent for the couple to take them to London and, although it will mean an early start for them both, Rose Grantham is also very much looking forward to it. When speaking about the event, she said: “We will be up at 4:30am. I am looking forward to it but I’m getting a bit apprehensive now, are we going to get there on time?”

The garden party that Mr and Mrs Grantham will be attending is the second of the season, where guests will consume finger sandwiches, cakes and a special Buckingham Palace Garden Party blend of tea. A lucky few will have the chance to meet and speak with Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh, while many will watch on from afar.